Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensing
Please see the new website for the Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals.
Montana Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Licensing
Please see the new website for the Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals.
Unlicensed Assistant Deadline Extended
Previously, one pathway to assistant licensure was to have worked as an unlicensed assistant prior to January 1, 2024, for a certain number of hours (690 for speech-language pathology or 110 for audiology). House Bill 384 changes that deadline to July 15, 2025.
Unlicensed Aides Authorized in Public Schools
House Bill 744 allows qualified people working in public schools under the supervision of a speech-language pathologist or audiologist to perform certain unskilled tasks without a license. The qualifications and tasks allowed will be determined by the board in the near future.
Substantial Equivalency Standardized
House Bill 246 defines education, examination, and experience as the factors determining whether another state's licensing standards are substantially equivalent to Montana's—with an option to address deficiencies using an applicant's actual qualifications and work experience.
Contingent Litigation Fund Established
For boards with less than $200,000, House Bill 227 adds a fee (currently $5) to all renewals and new licenses for that board until the contingent litigation fund exceeds $300,000.
New Board Established
House Bill 438 merges the four boards of Physical Therapy Examiners, Occupational Therapy Practice, Athletic Trainers, and Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists into the singular Board of Physical, Rehabilitative, and Developmental Health Care Professionals.
Although the Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Interstate Compact (ASLP-IC) is active, and although Montana is a member, compact privileges are not currently available for Montana because the FBI has not yet authorized Montana to run fingerprint background checks for speech and audiology license types.
This is an issue affecting many states, and Montana continues to pursue authorization. Federal legislation called the SHARE Act has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate in an attempt to solve this issue.
Once Montana is able to fully implement the compact, licensees in Montana will be able to purchase privileges to practice in other member states, and other states' licensees will be able to purchase privileges to practice in Montana.
During the 2025 Legislative Session, the Montana Legislature passed HB 276, impacting how the Department of Labor & Industry serves legal notices.
What’s Changing: All licensees and applicants are required to provide the department with their current mailing address and any change of address within 30 days. Individuals may consent to electronic service of legal notices by providing a current email address and updating within 30 days of any change.
All applications and renewals with the department will include the following:
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at (406) 444-6880 or dlibsdhelp@mt.gov.
Per Administrative Rules of Montana 24.222.550 and approved January 17, 2025, at a public board meeting, the "10 hours of additional board-approved training" for high-school-level Audiology Assistant applicants can be from any of the following:
Proof of such training should be evidenced by a certificate of completion or signed documentation from the trainer.
Montana is seeking authorization from the FBI to require all speech and audiology applicants to submit to a fingerprint background check for licensure. Once authorized, we will send new applicants further instructions on how to get fingerprinted. Until then, fingerprints aren't required.
Contact Information
Phone: 406-444-5696
Email: audit@mt.gov
Go here: https://aca-prod.accela.com/POL/Default.aspx
Or, at the top of this page, click the "Apply for a License" button.
Not necessarily. We can give you information about the application requirements, but we can't fully review or approve your specific circumstances until after you've submitted an application and paid the nonrefundable application fee.
Note that having a criminal history does not automatically disqualify you from licensure.
Possibly. See below:
Montana Code Annotated 37-1-144:
(5) On registration with the department, individuals actively licensed in good standing in another state may practice in Montana up to 21 days in a calendar year without licensure in this state to provide education, continuity of treatment, treatment to underserved populations, or highly specialized treatment care to clients or patients. For the purposes of this section, good standing includes verification of licensure in another state and any applicable disciplinary data bank.
Montana Code Annotated 37-15-103:
(5) ...this chapter does not restrict a person from another state from offering speech-language pathology or audiology services in this state if the services are performed for not more than 5 days in any calendar year and if the services are performed in cooperation with a speech-language pathologist or audiologist licensed under this chapter.
Go here: https://aca-prod.accela.com/POL/Home.aspx
Or, in the website menu, click "Additional License Information" then "Licensee Mailing Lists".
Note: You might need to be logged out of your Citizen Portal account for this service to work.